Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 8 Chapter 3 (section)

===Part 2===
 
In a vast space in one of the lowermost levels of the tower of Babel two battles were raging on.
 
Tiana for the most was dominating the battle with Phil as it progressed. The opposite could be said to be true for Onizuka with Tanaka as an opponent, from the beginning on he was overmatched. Attacks came from all directions and against the incoming shock waves,
 
"......!"
 
Onizuka could only see the attacks from the flickering of the fire surrounding him. The ones he wasn't able to dodge had to be countered with slashes from his chakrams he materialized in both hands by means of his AD.
 
Using wind based magic Tanaka was creating shock waves that not only were invisible to the naked eye, but also were classified as a medium range attack. Compared to how Onizuka was frantically running all over the place, Tanaka just stood there slightly away impassively unleashing attacks.
 
It was undoubtedly a cruel way of killing someone. Of course, Onizuka occasionally found an opening to strike back, and when he did he made the most of it by abruptly increasing the number of chakrams to eight,
 
"Ooo oh oh oh!"
 
He crossed his arms, and all the chakrams shot out together.
 
But......
 
"-- It's useless."
 
The chakrams that came flying from all directions were very easily neutralized by Tanaka with a shock wave.
 
"Accept your fate...... there are no blind spots with my wind magic."
 
And the offense and defense was reversed in an instant.
 
"Ku......"
 
A series of shock waves forced Onizuka back on the defensive.
 
...... Crap!
 
Even the doubles of himself he created using mirage were taken out in a split second.
 
The offensive attacks of Tanaka could be released at the same time. Onizuka's mirages however were only able to imitate the movement of the main body making it impossible for them to deal with each wave.
 
Once hit, the double would immediately disappear.
 
-- This compatibility was too evil was Onizuka's innermost thoughts.
 
Ever since the fighting started he was forced on the defensive.
 
One aspect of that was certainly because of magical attributes and methods of attack each of them used, however that wasn't the biggest problem.
 
...... Pull yourself TOGETHER!
 
Onizuka severely rebuked himself in his mind.
 
The person in front of him was no longer a former classmate. He was an enemy who was trying to kill him. And who's ability was far greater than his own. Even if he fought with all of his power he would not necessarily win. However -- there was still some hesitation that never disappeared from the back of Onizuka's mind.
 
The hesitancy was over the regret about how he acted in the past that he couldn't let go.
 
His spirit of self-reflection would indeed be worthy of respect.
 
But -- to hold that confusion in the middle of battle was undoubtedly a death wish.
 
...... Put it out of your mind, at least for now!
 
Onizuka clenched his teeth trying to rid himself of hesitation in his mind.
 
And,
 
"Uuu oh oh oh oh oh oh!"
 
He suddenly charged out towards Tanaka in a desperate suicide attack.
 
"Foolish......"
 
Thereupon, Tanaka held out his palm straight at him -- however the next moment,
 
"-- What!?"
 
The deadpan expression on his face for the first time showed a hint of surprise.
 
...... Fooled!
 
Onizuka was convinced the other party had fallen for his trap.
 
It was the same mirage magic he already used. However, Onizuka didn't necessarily have to only create a double of himself. Instead using the principles of mirage he blended his body into the surrounding scenery. In Tanaka's eyes, it would have looked like Onizuka had disappeared. With that chance he created -- Onizuka narrowed the distance between the two sides in one breath.
 
But......
 
"If that's the case......"
 
With himself at the center, Tanaka released a shock wave out in all directions.
 
However, he could reach him with only a few more steps -- so.
 
...... It is now!
 
Onizuka's body was still hidden, only the mirage of himself he just now created was visible.
 
"-?"
 
With Onizuka's figure suddenly appearing, Tanaka's attention had reflexively turned to that place.
 
But that was only aimed at the illusion. He erased his body, and created a doppelganger -- in preparation for a two-pronged attack.
 
And because of that Onizuka Kenya was able to breach that gap of a few steps.
 
At the same time he was sprinting he tightly grasped the chakram in his right hand.
 
With his opponent being almost immortal he aim at the neck.
 
One strike to settle things.
 
And as the distance between the Onizuka and Tanaka went to zero,
 
 
 
"------------!"
 
 
 
The chakram didn't cut open Tanaka's throat.
 
It was stopped a little more than half way in the air towards his throat.
 
However, it wasn't caused by anything Tanaka did. Onizuka voluntarily stopped the attack himself.
 
"...... Shit... ... I couldn't do it after all......."
 
Onizuka quietly groaned to himself.
 
He was perfectly aware that Tanaka was a dangerous enemy, but still Onizuka couldn't bring himself to kill him.
 
"...... What is the meaning of this?"
 
"......"
 
Faced with Tanaka's question head-on, Onizuka was speechless.
 
What does that mean? Such a thing was very obvious.
 
The prior grievances had yet to be settled.
 
Onizuka thought if he taken down Tanaka without doing that he would never be able move on during his entire lifetime.
 
Even if it was just self-satisfaction, or to console himself.
 
And so......
 
"...... I'm very sorry for how I acted."
 
Onizuka Kenya took the initiative to apologies.
 
And with all sincerity,
 
"Even if you are a terrorist. Even if you used me to cover for yourself. It does not mean I should be forgiven for what I did to you. So, I want to apologize to you."
 
"............"
 
Tanaka also went silent on how to respond Onizuka.
 
And after a pause,
 
"I've said...... you do not need to apologize for anything."
 
It was said in very tranquil manner, nevertheless they weren't words of forgiveness for Onizuka.
 
Tanaka held up his right hand unfolding a magic formation at Onizuka's face,
 
"What you you did was meaningless. No matter what intention you had in mind -- you can't change the fact that you're going to die here."
 
And the moment the shock wave was about to turn Onizuka's face into pulp.
 
 
 
"Huh? -- the one who is certainly going to die here is you, though."
 
 
 
Tiana suddenly jumped into from side with a flying kick to Tanaka's face.
 
Intense reverberations of meat and bone being struck spread widely.
 
Tiana's kick caused Tanaka to fly back more than ten meters.
 
"......"
 
Onizuka was stunned, and just stood there with a blank expression.
 
"Hey you! Ken-chan...... How could you just foolishly stand there in front of the enemy? What were you thinking?"
 
And Tiana expression revealed her disapproval,
 
"Listening to you two, it seems that this is the person you mentioned before in the family restaurant. The one who Ken-chan often used bully, right?...... And now you want to show mercy to an enemy out of sympathy and regret. However, I'd advise you not to be such good person, most good people don't live very long."
 
"...... Shut up. I don't need you to butt in. And also I never felt I such good person."
 
Onizuka excessively turned away.
 
"You are. I told you before Ken-chan, you just love to pretend to quarrel like that. It is very tiresome characteristic."
 
"Your noisy. -- Leaving that aside, did you settle things on your end?"
 
From Tiana's relaxed appearance he thought she had already won.
 
The results......
 
"Not yet."
 
She readily answered back and,
 
"A little longer I would of had him, but because Ken-chan was about to die I had to come over here."
 
"......What? Then --"
 
As Onizuka was trying to finish,
 
"-- Heads up!"
 
Tiana forcibly shoved Onizuka to the side. And at almost at the same time a red ball of light struck the spot where the two were standing, causing a powerful explosion sending a cloud of sand soaring.
 
And,
 
"...... What a headache. How could be so unfaithful? Your opponent was plainly me......"
 
The voice from the other side of the sand cloud was Phil's. Tiana said she was about to win, however the situation looked very different now. It seems he already recovered from any injuries he might of had because of <Phoenix cell>, and tracked her down.
 
The voice was light, completely unlike a person who was seriously injured.
 
So......
 
"...... I guess, it couldn't be helped."
 
Tiana sighed, and,
 
"Well then -- it seems we need to change the strategy a little."